The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1887-11-10
DEACON GIBRs THANKSGIVING


Indy =
rYes. and mus. say I'm glad OF H. A
lose woman Amt got no business a.tfyins
10 farm, no way. Though ] mus, say I've
made ont pretty well, this year ] cleared
sir hundred dollars on the wheat, over
and above paying for tbs harvesiin',
threshin', aud the like And I've sold the
hay, clover and timothy mixed, for about
three hundred more. But It's avful ~ear-
Ia on q woman, s-tendin' 10 things aud
wa,chin that the hands don't shifk nor
nothing. As was Saying. lone woman
aint got no business with q farm. Twas
different before Aaron died, aud Mrs
Belinda Blossom gave q fegretiul Sigh 10
the memory Of the dead and gone Aaron.
"You needn't bc lone woman no long'
er than yon want 10. Belindy," quietly OBJ
served her sister Mrs. Jrmima Hatch.
There's Deacon Gibbs. now. would give
bis eyes to-"
Don't say Deacon Gibbs TO me, re-
toried The widow. Don't know what
hes alter 7" Don't he know as well as j
do. that I've got eight thousand dollars
pat away snug aud safe in the Blnsglsss
bank | haven't donbt bed like to get
the handlin' OF il. bnt be never will, | Gao
tell him that
"Sho, now Belinda, demonstrated Mrs.
| Hatch. Whats the use o maxim the
poor man out wuss'n he Is 7 don't
know as hes any likelier TO bs after the
money than Lavyer Greene
Lawyer Greene has got money him
self, aud 1t stands to reason taint so much
Of an object to him, Besides, haven't
said ="
''Oh, no. you haven't said, know, but
body can put two aud two together, !
reckon. Well, all I've got to say is, I'd
rutber have Deacon Gibbs any day, il it
was me, than that smooth spoke, iley
lookin lawyer But must be agettin
home; Bijah'll want his supper, time it's
ready" and Mrs. Hatch rolled up her
knitting. wrapped it carefully in cloth,
and put on her black sun. bonnet and blue
yarn "haif hands,
"You might have stayed to supper, Je-
NINA" said the widow, reproachfully
IL was going to have cream cookies and
some OF them Llwton blackberry pre-
serves you are so fond OF.
oval. I'd like mighty we'll to stay. Be.
Indy, but Bijah he'll be lookln' for me
to hev supper ready.when he comes in
from the field He's allus as hungry as
beaver at night, and ain't left nothin'
cooked so be could get himself bite. l
reckon Id better go Be you goin to
Mis- Larcoms quiltin' next week ?"
"0h. s'pose SO. Mis- Larcom would
get miffed, il didn't, and after another
five or ten minutes conversation, Mrs.
Hatch got started home.
Mrs. Belinda Blossom was typical
widow, fair, fat, and not quite forty. and
was known as the best housekeeper in and
around the neighborhood where she lived.
With even less personal attractions and
good qualities than she possessed. she
might have exchanged her widows weeds
for bridal attire long ago, il she had so
desired. However, for some reason best
known to herself. she had preferred to re-
main clone woman" as she called it so
far. Whether she would remain SO much |
longer was question which puzzled her
self quite as much as it did some other
parties.
1t was the day OF Mrs. Larcom's quilt
ing and supper was almost ready. The
quilt was already out. and by little pre-
concerted maDnuvre on the part OF the
fun-loying girls, it had been thrown over
the widows head when taken ont OF the
frame a piece OF mischief which afforded
no little amusement, as, according TO the
time honored tradition, whoever the quilt
is first thrown over is soon to become q
bride.
Mrs, Blossom wore her honors blush
ingly, and her cheeks we're still covered
with crimson when the gentlemen began
to drop 10, just before supper.
Lawyer Greene, who was among the
first to arrive. was profuse in his atten.
lions to the blooming widow, much to the
discontinue OF bis less fortunate rival,
who could only sit 10 corner and cast
despairing glsnces at the object OF bis
affections.
"Just look at Deacon Gibbs" whisper
cd Mahsla Williams to Dorcas Lamb.
'He looks like hen on hot griddle,
while Lawyer Greene is accounting the
widow"
Dorcas Uttered out loud, whereupon
the deacon grew red 10 the face,as II aware
that be vas the object OF their mirth.
oval. reckon I'll be agoin', MIS- Lar
ccm' be announced, approaching the
hostess short time after. II only Jest
dropped 10 TO sec how yon was all s-gittin
along.
"0b, you must stay TO supper. deacon;
i.s almost ready, nov, and | can't let you
go before that, !" declared the hostess, de-
.erminedly. But the deacon was equally
aud 60 be did.
.'Deacou Gibbs Deacon Gibbs stop
4 minute. | want to speak TO you. cried
MIRA Hatch. rushing out to the porch
where be stood. looking little bewidered
.. III unexpected summons.
II wait to ask you to come over the
day after ,omorrow Thanksgiving day.
yon know and eat dinner with u.s. Now
don't Fay DO there won't be snybody |
there only Bslindy and our own folks
Say you'll come r.
wal, dunno. Mrs Hatch. said the